USA vs Germany: Lineups, Stats, Preview And Prediction

USA vs Germany preview

USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann took on FIFA on Sunday when he said that football’s governing body had indulged in favoritism when it came to his homeland Germany. He complained that Germany had played against Ghana a day earlier in relatively friendly conditions in Fortaleza, while the USA had to jet off from their base in Sao Paolo to the heat in the amazonian outpost of Manaus. Klinsmann  however, sounded confident at the prospect of taking on his homeland and chose to take the positives from a heartbreaking 2-2 draw with Portugal.

It will be something of an emotional fixture for the striker who scored 47 goals in 108 matches for his country. And the clash between USA and Germany provides the stage for a spicy reunion as Klinsmann takes on his former assistant Joachim Löw, the duo who masterminded Germany’s resurgence in the 2006 World Cup on home soil after Rudi Völler’s over-reliance on Michael Ballack led to Germany’s early exit from the group stages in Euro 2004. The quick passing and movement, we associate with Löw’s side has more than a striking resemblance to the style Klinsmann introduced with Germany, but it could be one of their own who could prove to be a thorn in the flesh for Germany.

Germany had more than a fleeting scare against Ghana in the previous match, and it took a 15th World Cup goal from Miroslav Klose to earn the Germans a vital point. Löw’s side sit comfortably at the zenith of the group – thanks to their superior goal difference, but a win for USA could doom Germany to a Round of 16 match against the dark horses Belgium, a prospect Germany would look to avoid. Sami Khedira had one of his worst days in a German shirt against Ghana, and Bastian Schweinsteiger could come in for the Real Madrid man, allowing Phillip Lahm to revert to his natural right-back position. Thomas Mueller seems to have overcome his nasty head injury to retain his place in the starting XI.

Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore is set to miss out on the match, thanks to a hamstring strain he picked up in the group opener against Ghana. Clint Dempsey will lead the line and much will depend on Michael Bradley in the heart of the USA midfield. Stoke City defender Goeff Cameron is expected to retain his place despite being at fault for the early goal from Nani.

USA vs Germany Match Facts:

• Germany and USA have played nine international matches against each other. Germany won six and USA three. A draw, the result that would send both teams through to the KO stages, has never occurred between these teams.
• The teams have played in two World Cup matches, six friendlies and in the 1999 Confederations Cup (2-0 USA win).
• At the World Cup, Germany won the group stage match 2-0 in Paris in 1998 (goals by Andy Möller, Jürgen Klinsmann) and the quarterfinal match 1-0 in Ulsan in 2002 (Michael Ballack goal). Miroslav Klose started that last match.
• In 2006, Joachim Löw assisted Jürgen Klinsmann at the World Cup. Germany reached the semi-finals that year as hosts (2-0 loss AET v Italy).
• Klinsmann is the only 2014 World Cup coach facing his own country in the group stage.

• Klinsmann has played in three World Cups, taking the trophy in 1990. He scored three goals in that tournament and 11 goals in his three participations combined.

Facts compiled from uk.eurosport.yahoo.com

USA vs Germany Predicted Lineups: